THE Lord of The Dance came to the West End of London last night when Michael Flatley premiered a 3D film version of his famous dance spectacular.

Dame Shirley Bassey was among the VIPs who walked the red carpet, but the show's star said he would rather have had his first night in Dublin.

"I was particularly fighting to have it in Ireland. We were planning on doing one in Dublin, but we couldn't get the theatre signed up on time. There was nothing we could do, as we literally ran out of time.

"We only finished filming in Berlin on December 10, and that's not a long time ago," Mr Flatley told the Irish Independent.

Filmed over five nights in two different cities -- and using 20 alternating 3D camera angles -- the 52-year-old said he made his million-dollar 3D movie in order to bring his dance show to people who have never seen it before.

"There are people who will never get to an arena show, but who will be able to see this in cinemas around the world.

"This is the first live performance ever to be filmed in 3D on film. I wanted to do it this way because with all the advances in 3D technology, this was the right thing to do for us and our brand.

Promoting

"People can say what they want, but at the end of the day, we are promoting Irish culture around the world -- from Mexico to Tokyo."

The father-of-one revealed in recent times he had offered his services to Bord Failte to encourage Americans to holiday in Ireland.

"I'm working with the tourist board in New York and the main thing is to bring back tourism to Ireland. That starts the dollars coming back in," he said.

But someone who he believes contributed even more to Ireland during his life was his late friend, RTE broadcaster Gerry Ryan.

"Gerry did so much for Ireland. I thought the world of him. He is still on my mind now because he was a real person and a great man. I believe he is smiling down on us now from heaven and having a good laugh, but how sad such a young man went too soon," he said.